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I am glad to be back. 

Wanda and I had an exciting summer. There were so many things that happened during our time away that they each have become unforgettable memories. Thank you to this church for allowing me the opportunity to take this renewal leave. Although I may not be a completely changed man as I come back to you, my outlook on life and ministry have been greatly impacted. I was reminded of Jesus’ words in John 10:10 “I have come to give you life, and give it abundantly.” Although our journey ended on a high note, it did not start out that way. I want to share with you some of those experiences, but only to point out God’s grace through it. 

Getting to Logan and landing in Madrid was almost a breeze. We did not have any sort of delays. We took the bus from Falmouth, arrived on time to Boston, both the security check and the plane ride were uneventful, and unbelievably enough, picking up the car at the rental place in Madrid was much easier than I had anticipated. Thus our trip began as we headed to Avila, Spain. We started there because Wanda wanted to visit the convent where the 15th century Spanish mystic Teresa of Avila lived. She’s one of her favorite Christian Mystics.

But half way there we got lost. We argued for making a wrong turn, and had to drive 30 extra minutes through narrow and winding roads to find our way back. We did. (Thank God for GPSs!) Although the next couple of days in Avila were precious and filled with learning and reflection, this was only the beginning. After two days, we drove to Burgos, Spain, the birthplace of El Cid, a national hero who lived around the 10th century. Most importantly, while we were there, Spain won the World Cup. The streets were loud with celebration that night.

The beginning of our Camino journey, however, began two days later in Ponferrada, Spain. It could've ended up in running our trip because we took the wrong bus. Instead of taking the bus that would take us to our AirBnb 15 minutes away, we took one heading to Madrid (that’s a 12 hour bus ride). Thank God that it occurred to me to make sure we were on the right bus. Of course, the driver wasn't too happy that he had to stop the bus in the middle of the street, but he did. At our AirBnb, our attempt to wash some clothes ended in us almost breaking the washer. We left the place without our clothes. Thankfully, the host was nice enough to put our wet clothes in a bag and we walked to pick them up the next day.

The next day, we began our walk from Ponferrrada to Villafranca. As prepared as we were, it was brutally hot but we made it. Of course, I got more stories, but let me end this article with this. I started this pilgrimage thinking that I would somehow experience some sort of spiritual bliss or epiphany, and returned to you a changed man, but the only thing God changed in me was my attitude. Sometimes that is all we need. An attitude adjustment. A new perspective. A bird’s eye view or maybe I should say, a God’s eye view. To look at our lives and realize that the life we are living may not be perfect or problem-free, but it is abundant and full. We will always have challenges, but Jesus has already come to open our eyes so that we can live a better and more abundant life. 

As we begin a new year at church, let us begin with an attitude adjustment. Let us open our eyes and see how good God is. 

Pastor René

It is with sadness that I need to inform you that unfortunately this past Tuesday, Alex Sutton resigned as church administrator. The Staff Parish Ministry Team (SPRMT) is already working in searching for someone to fill the position. Please keep Alex and SPRMT in your prayers.

SEPTEMBER SERMON SERIES

Deborah - Sept. 6

Theme: Wisdom and Courage 

Scripture: Judges 4:1-10



Lydia - Sept. 13

Theme: Faith and Hospitality

Reading: Acts 16:11-15

Susanna Wesley - Sept. 20

Theme: Patience and Commitment 

Text: Galatians 6:7-10

Join us for our annual Rally Day right after Sunday Service! 
Our amazing potluck offerings are sure to please! We will be passing a sign up sheet for anyone willing to bring their specialties. Contact Mary Ellen for more information: Mary Ellen Geoghan

Greeters 



If you are interested in being part of the welcome, contact Karen Camp 508-737-1636 or nerakpmac13@gmail.com.

It’s a vital part of the hospitality of John Wesley United Methodist Church to greet and welcome visitors and members alike!

Crafters Club

Everyone is welcome to join the Crafters Club that meets the first Monday of the month at 1PM in the Fitzgerald room. No experience is necessary! 

It’s a lot of fun as you prepare a wide range of crafts for the November church fair!

Prayer Chain 

The prayer chain is a confidential prayer email chain list of 19. The prayer requests are sent out, and the team prayer warriors are asked to pray for those requests for the whole month. Contact is made at the end of the month to see if the request needs to continue for the next month.

If you are interested in joining in praying for others, contact Karen Camp at 508-737-1636 

or nerakpmac13@gmail.com.

Wednesday Prayer Group 

On Wednesdays at 11am, there is an in-person prayer group to pray for those who would like to have prayers for themselves or others.

If you are interested in joining the Wednesday 11am prayer group as a member or have a prayer request, contact the pastor/office.

Prayer Box

Under the TV on a table in the narthex is a prayer box with cards for you to submit prayer requests to various prayer teams.  

Trustees

Trustees take care of the physical assets of JWUMC. 

Each Sunday after church, a trustee secures the doors & turns off lights/fans/vents.

If you are leaving the church, please feel free to close the fellowship hall doors, sanctuary doors, Sunday School wing doors, bathroom doors, and the library doors. This is a fire prevention task & is encouraged.

Currently, the Trustees are working on: building use forms and fees, a wedding policy, glass replacement on the roof at the rear of the sanctuary, concerns about the increase in property insurance, turning off the stove pilot lights for the summer, the church shed (done: thanks, Frank & Carolyn), ants, food leaks, fear fellowship hall closet, cemetery improvements/ cleanup, grants, our church garden, the kitchen window & fan, the basement steps, thrift shop security, and more! 

Card Ministry 



Happy birthday to you!  

Check out the calendar on the fellowship hall hospitality bulletin board for you to put on your birthday, if you haven’t already been receiving cards or are new to JWUMC to update the birthday list. Thank you very much!

JWUMC cares about each other. If you know of someone who could use a thinking of you, get well, sympathy card, etc., contact Karen: 508-737-1636 nerakpmac13@gmail.com.

Library

Stroll down the hallway outside the sanctuary to the Lyman Lounge or the sample basket in the fellowship hall to expand your choices of books! 

You still have the opportunity to use a Post-it note to share your insights with the next reader! Enjoy these examples of recent donations to peruse/read! 

The Family Ministry Team

We hosted our John Wesley Children & Youth to ice cream on July 31 at Smitty's. We ate ice cream, caught up with activities and Amelia, Emma, Elizabeth, Perry and Wyle allowed Matt and Amy to join a very competitive game of Capture the Flag. 

Sunday School resumes on Sunday, September 13 during the 10am Service. We have several options for families with children younger than 5. All are welcome to join us in the service. We have a rocking chair and play table in the back of the sanctuary. Or a parent/guardian can entertain the youngsters in the narthex and watch the LiveStream. We also offer the parents and children toys and books in the Nursery in the Education Wing. 

If you would like to volunteer with the Family Ministry Team please reach out to Amy: familyministry@johnwesleyumc.org or call 508.274.1904. 

Social Justice Team

The JWUMC Social Justice Team is excited to announce a new partnership with a local non-profit, Family Table Collaborative. We will be collaborating to bring fresh, chef-prepared meals to people who need them in Falmouth on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. At the same time we'll be helping to redirect tons of surplus food from landfills and compost piles to those in our community suffering from food insecurity. 

We need 2-3 volunteers from John Wesley at each distribution time, to help direct traffic through our parking lot. 

To volunteer during distribution, please visit the Sign up Genius page: SIGN UP HERE .

To learn how you or someone you know can sign up for meals, visit familytablecollaborative and click on "Request a Meal" at the top of the page.

You can also learn more about this new community partner through their website. 

This new venture is an exciting opportunity to serve as Jesus' hands in our community. 

Any questions, please contact: jennifer.v.linton@gmail.com

Falmouth Interfaith Collaboration on Homelessness: 
Meeting 9–11 AM on Saturday, August 29

This is a reminder for the upcoming FICH meeting this Saturday, August 29, from 9:00AM to 11:00AM, in the Fellowship Hall at the John Wesley United Methodist Church. 

Please note that we are meeting one hour earlier than usual.

Please review the following details ahead of the meeting:

1. Agenda Updates: If your organization has updates to report, please find the appropriate section on the attached agenda. If your activities are not listed, contact me as soon as possible to add them.

2. Attendance & Alternates: If you cannot attend in person, you are welcome to send a representative or join via Zoom. A link will be sent out soon.

3. Zoom Participation: If you plan to join via Zoom, please let me know in advance.

Light refreshments will be provided. The building is handicap accessible, and gender-inclusive restrooms are available on the same floor as the meeting. Please let me know if you require any specific accommodations.

Feel free to forward this message to any individual or organization you think would be interested in joining us.

Sincerely,

Jenn Linton (she/her)

Chair, JWUMC Social Justice Team

Calling All JW Preservers!

Are you a canner? A preserver? Jam or jelly maker? Condiment creator? John Wesley needs you to help create products to be sold at the Christmas Fair this November.

If you are interested in producing a preserved edible creation for the Fair, or just want to learn more about how to do such things, please email Matt O’Connor at oconnorscapecod@gmail.com or call him at 703-888-8502.

Education Wing Lock Rekeying

We had new locks installed in the Education Wing last Friday afternoon. This included the church office. Russ made 30 keys and stamped individual numbers on them. If you are in a position where you need to access the church office, you may sign for a key with administrator during normal church office hours. Each key is individually numbered and we are keeping track of key issuance and returns as part of our church security effort. 

If you have an emergency and need to access the office before you are able to get a key, please text or call Russ Brown at 508-274-4481 and he will provide a temporary solution for accessing the office.

Linda Duane



If anyone would like to reach out to our friend Linda Duane (because people have inquired), you can reach her at: 114 Somerset Lane-Pulaski, TN 38478

We received an email this week from Bishop Bickerton, presiding bishop of the New England and New York Annual Conferences to inform us (and alert us) that the conference was a victim of a financial cyber crime. They have sought the help of the FBI and the secret service to help them through this time, but unfortunately, the criminals got away with a substantial amount of money. Let us keep our bishop and conference leaders in our prayers. 

Birthday Wishes for September

Join us on the 2nd Tuesday (Sept 8th) of each month for a Birthday Luncheon at Sweet Rice in Teaticket!

1  Liz King

2  Bobye Anderson 

2  Matty O’Brien

10 Mike McCarthy

10 Helen Bresnahan 

22 Larry Bonfilio

If we don't know your birthday, please email your birthday information to the church office. 

We want to celebrate you!

MEN'S BREAKFAST

THIS MONTH'S SHOUT OUT!

Stewardship in Action

“Shout Out” - Dianne Belamarich & Team

This month our “Stewards in Action” Shout Out goes to the Invitation & Connection Team and the Spiritual Growth Team.

Whether you're greeting a new face, helping someone find their place in our church family, leading a Bible study, organizing a faith formation opportunity, or simply encouraging another person on their journey, you are making a difference. Thank you to everyone serving on our Invitation & Connection Team and Spiritual Growth Team. Your ministry reminds us that stewardship is about growing together in faith and sharing God's love with others. Your faithful service is a blessing to our congregation.

INVITATION & CONNECTION Lianne Carbone

INVITATION! If you want to invite someone to an event, go to the church calendar on the website or the APP, open the event, and hit share. It will guide you as to how to do it.  All the team leaders and our office work hard at making sure each event has details that are easy to understand for someone that is new.  Take advantage!

RED SHIRTS and new PENS: We still have a few sizes and styles of our Red Shirts that are on clearance. We try to have them with us at the Connect Desk on Sundays. The NEW shirt order forms are at the desk, on the website (under Connect/Merchandise) and the APP. Also see the new Red pens with our logo. Pass them out freely!

Our Church APP: Sorry to say that our Google Playstore link is broken FOR NEW USERS ONLY, so it can't be downloaded. But for everyone else, keep on using the APP. There are now 304 people who have downloaded it, 126 people who have profiles, and 405 people launched it last month! Join the crowd!

See you at Church!

As summer comes to a close, we offer a sincere and heartfelt thank you to our wonderful beach service crew: Greeters, Cynthia Syverson-Mercer and Bruce Mercer; A/V Assistants, Matt O’Connor and Frank O’Connor; and Music, Michael Smith and Daniel Almy.

And let us not forget Betty Smith and Tracy Jaekel, along with all of the wonderful guest preachers who helped make these services so meaningful. We are also grateful to the Town of Falmouth for providing access to Surf Drive Beach.

Week after week, we welcomed around 50 people to worship together at the beach. What a wonderful ministry this has been! Thank you to everyone who gave their time, energy, and gifts to make it possible. We are truly grateful for all that you have done to bring the joy of worship to the beach this summer.

THE WESLEY HOUSE THRIFT SHOP

Thank you for a successful Grand Opening on Aug 7!

Explore our shop, connect with friends and neighbors, and be part of our newest endeavor at John Wesley! Spread the word as our offerings continue to grow…thanks to you!

We’re open from 10AM to 2PM Fridays and Saturdays. 
Stop by…we'd love to see you!

FOR THE MOST CURRENT UPDATES TO EVENT DETAILS, INCLUDING TIMES, LOCATIONS, AND CANCELLATIONS PLEASE CONSULT OUR CHURCH CALENDAR ON THE WEBSITE OR MOBILE APP